Diskordanssi

Sarcastic, addicted to coffee.

[diskordanssi]

Tanacon - what went wrong?

I just finished Shane Dawson’s documentary about Tanacon. If you don’t know what Tanacon was head to the YouTube channel of Shane Dawson and watch the documentary series.

When I heard about Tanacon I had a gut feeling that it was a classic disaster. Classic in that sense when people who don’t know how to run a convention organize one and make all the entry level mistakes. This was a perfect example of that. Luckily, no body died as Shane said.

Mistakes were made in every step on the way. From the contracts to the actual organizing. Event production is a really hard field to work. The win margins are slim compared to how much work a convention or an event takes. What I gathered from the series the owner of Good Times doesn’t actually know how to organize a convention. Tana knows even less. But still they’re are equally guilty.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Don’t trust when something is said to you but the contract says something else. When things go wrong people will take out the signed contracts and what you have discussed gets lost in the air (if you don’t have witnesses).

You’re not responsible for other company’s losses. The ticket company clearly played the owner of Good Times. Usually the ticket price includes the sales commission that goes to the ticket company. When things go wrong the ticket company only holds that comission and transfers the rest of the money to the production company. But the contract was signed.

Planning, planning and once again planning. 6 months for a  convention holding little over 1000 people is enough (if you know what you’re doing).

Overselling tickets is one of the biggest sins an event organizer can do. You should never sell more than the venue can hold. You’ll endanger your staff’s, performers’ and visitors’ safety.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

Refund the tickets.

Pay back the travel expences of the fans.

Pay the bills.

Tana should take care of the fans and their refunds. After that move to a different talent agent / manager.

The owner of the Good Times should take care of the Mariott and other expenses of the convention. A lot of your reputation is saved with a proper apology and paying your bills.

This is a hard lesson for both of them. They did wrong. Luckily, you can always do better. Learn, pay your dues and don’t repeat your mistakes.

[diskordanssi]

Top 3 James Bond Theme Songs

Okay, I’ve been listening to few of them now almost two days in a row. I really need to get these out my system. You may think: “Why on Earth you’re listening to theme songs from James Bonds?” You got to admit that there’re a couple of masterpieces. So here’s my top 3. I hope this will release me from my “misery”.

1. Adele - Skyfall Does this even need reasoning? A masterpiece. I always feel super calm when I listen to it. And the lyrics. Damn, they really resonate with me. I don’t have anything else to add. Adele is the Queen. She earned that Oscar. (And I’ve watched that lyric video too many times…)

2. Tina Turner - Golden Eye

Okay, this might come as a surprise but this song takes me back to my childhood. I listened to it while working in a farm at 6 am. Yes, I’ve worked in farm and I know how to milk a cow. When I heard “Golden Eye” from the radio I always got a boost of empowerment and danced.

3. Madonna - Die Another Day

A song from my list of “power songs”. I remember when this was realesed. At the time I was in primary school and our class organized disco nights at the school. We raised money for our class trip that way. When “Die Another Day” hit the air at the disco we danced so hard. Ou boy, we got the moves.

[diskordanssi]

Rolemodels | Gwendoline Christie

Just watched her interview with Stephen Colbert and just wow. I was really pleased the way she addressed the problem how female warriors are potrayed in the movies and series. Breastplate ain’t enough. I was also impressed how she spoke and took her place in the studio. Boss Lady with a capital B.